ELECTION '98.

Moseley-braun May Lose Clinton Clout

The ripple effect of President Clinton's troubles may hit Illinois' senior senator where it hurts--in the campaign pocketbook.

U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.) said Monday that she thought the House of Representatives would press the case for impeachment of Clinton and that such a scenario could scuttle plans to have the president host an Oct. 16 fundraiser for her.

"The political drama right now really makes it iffy," Moseley-Braun said as she met with the Tribune's editorial board. "I had hoped and I am still hoping--I have not disinvited the president--that he would help me with fundraising."

She said her campaign, which trails Republican challenger Peter Fitzgerald's in financial resources, had planned to have Clinton help raise about $500,000. But, she said: "I don't know if he's going to be able to do that. It depends on what happens with the rest of the drama around his presidency."

She added: "Can I raise the money without the president? I may have to. It may come to that. I just don't know."

Go fish: If the guy with the fishing pole in Aurelia Pucinski's new political commercials looks vaguely familiar, he should: He's the same actor that County Board President John Stroger used in his TV campaign ads in 1994.

In an effort to tweak Stroger over his refusal--thus far--to debate, the Pucinski campaign located the actor, Jack McCabe, and hired him for two television commercials that will begin airing next week on area channels.

At a news conference in which she unveiled the two commercials, Pucinski said the purpose of the ads is "to poke a little fun at an opponent who won't debate, who won't establish any joint appearances and won't be in his own commercials.

"I think voters are entitled to a better, clearer idea of who the incumbent is and what he stands for," said Pucinski.

Pucinski, the current Cook County Circuit Court clerk who switched to the Republican Party last year in order to challenge Stroger, has called for 10 debates. Stroger has said he's not interested in providing Pucinski with a forum to attack him.